The Chronicler's Selective Memory, Psalms of Ascent and Romans: heaping hot coals! Plus an e-invitation from Good Sam

 

Dear Bible Challenge participants,

 

It sounds like last week's gathering at Good Sam offered a wonderful program. As I was among a number who could not make it, I'm wondering if you who did would share your favorite take-aways from the evening. Please email me your thoughts on what you heard, learned and experienced, and I will compile them and share them with the group as a whole.

 

Along those lines, we have been invited to participate in Good Sam's "googlegroup"-- an email listserve overseen by the Rev. Rebecca Edwards, in which participants can offer their thoughts and questions directly to the group.  Please email me if you would like to be part of this group, and I will arrange to have an invitation emailed to you.

 

So.... How about the Chronicler's selective memory? And rather circular (rather than linear) sense of time?  I find it interesting that we heard about David and Solomon chapters before we heard about Moses.... and also that the Chronicler completely skips over the stories that lead to the "sword never leaving the House of David" which we heard in Kings... namely the murder of Uriah the Hittite, the scandal of Bathsheba, (nor the rape of Tamar and death of Absolom).   And I love the Chronicler's detail about the life of worship... including how the levites who are in the choir are to sing out in unison... I can hear Ruben talking about "blend."  :)  

 

Another bit of Chronicler trivia: I Chronicles 21 is the first time that "Satan" appears as such in Hebrew Scripture... likely because this text is so late, and this concept of "Satan" is one they encountered in other religious cosmologies while in Exile.  For more on Satan...ahem... check out Elaine Pagel's The Origin of Satan: How Christians Demonized Jews, Pagans and Heretics.  I believe this text is in our parish library.

 

At the same time, what a treat to be in the part of the Psalms that includes both Psalm 121 and 122... two favorites.  And as Solomon has built the temple, and blessed the people, recalling how the Lord chose not a city from among the tribes, but Jerusalem, we enjoyed Psalm 122... I was glad! Pray for the peace of Jerusalem....

 

AND we read Psalm 122, no doubt with some of us hearing Parry's I Was Glad, at this time when we celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee... this piece traditionally played at the coronation of British Monarchs. Delightful serendipity!

 

Join us for Evensong on Sunday, June 3, and hear our own wonderful choir perform this piece! 

 

 And finally: Romans... Paul's wonderful letter, in which he draws in his audience, and then sometimes not-so-gently reminds them that they are sinners in need of God's grace. And lest anyone think that somehow the Jews are less-than, oh no! He doesn't let anyone think that for long.  And then there's that very human line in Romans 12.... be kind to your enemies........thus heaping burning coals upon their heads. 

 

Thanks, Paul, for reminding us of your humanity as you do not let us escape from our own!

 

And thank you, all, for being on this journey!

 

Peace,

Paige+ 


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the Rev. Paige Blair

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